Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion(DIPP), Shri Amitabh Kant has said that cement industry has to grow 20-25 per cent annually over the next three decades to meet the requirement of a rapidly growing Indian economy. Delivering the inaugural address at the 53rd Annual Session of Cement Manufacturers’ Association(CMA), Shri Kant said that for a sustained high growth rates for the Indian economy, manufacturing has to grow by 13-14 per cent and cement has to be a major driver of India’s growth sector.

 Responding to the flagging of some issues by CMA, Secretary DIPP said that he would convene a meeting with the officers of his Ministry, Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Environment and Department of Revenue to sort out the issues. Referring to the announcement made in the Budget 2015-16, Shri Kant said that huge emphasis has been laid on infrastructure and this will provide impetus to the cement industry.

 Earlier, Shri O.P.Puranmalka, President, CMA, in his welcome address said that cement industry has grown at the rate of about 8 per cent in the first three quarters of the current financial year. However, to meet the level of cement demand arising out of expected increase in the growth rates, Government has to ensure adequate availability of land and consistent availability of major inputs like limestone, coal and adequate infrastructure like rail availability.

 Later, Secretary DIPP released a booklet brought out by CMA on “Cement Concrete Road & Overlay Construction - Dos and Donts”.

Cement industry growth: policy push for rapid sector expansion and inter ministerial action to clear supply and land bottlenecks. DIPP directs rapid expansion of the cement sector as a driver of manufacturing and infrastructure growth and proposes an inter ministerial meeting to address supply side and regulatory constraints including land availability, inputs like limestone and coal, and transport infrastructure; the Budget's infrastructure focus is identified as supporting cement demand, accompanied by industry growth data and release of technical guidance on concrete road construction.